The site of the future station at Sheppard and McCowan is unique along the Scarborough Subway Extension route because it’s both the terminus for the extended Line 2 subway and the launch site for the tunnel boring machine, Diggy Scardust.

This is where Diggy was first lowered in the ground to start tunnelling, and where important work continues to carve out the 6.9-km tunnel for the project.

Stretching from south of Sheppard Avenue East to north of Nugget Avenue, the site is undergoing huge transformations. While utility relocations and culvert upgrades have been underway, crews have now started piling to prepare for the future tail track ventilation shaft and the underground infrastructure to support excavation of the station building.

Tail tracks extend past the last station on the line and provide trains space to turn around safely, manage service disruptions and maintain reliable subway service.

Work has also started on the underground infrastructure to support excavation for the station itself, which will build upon the excavation work already completed for the tunnel launch shaft.

Crews have started drilling the first of 1,187 piles required for the main station building. Piles are deep concrete columns that help stabilize the soil and form an underground structure to support excavation, the next major step for the station site.

Once complete, the new subway station at Sheppard and McCowan will see 13,230 customers during the busiest travel hour and support 5,995 jobs in the local area.

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